Apparatus for producing wall panels

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for automatically forming wall panels by lacing or inserting studs having male dovetailed key members formed on the ends thereof into two plates having dovetailed keyways formed therein. The apparatus includes a supply bunk or rack for holding a plurality of studs to be laced, a stud clamp for grasping a stud from the box and positioning it for insertion into the keyways of the two plates, means for simultaneously pressing the stud into the keyways of the two plates, and mechanism for advancing the two plates and positioning the next consecutive keyways at a predetermined location for insertion of a next stud. The method includes the novel procedure by which the next consecutive keyways in the plates are positioned to receive a stud.

United States Patent Kunkle, Jr.

[4 Feb. 15,1972

[54] APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING WALL PANELS [72] Inventor: George E.Kunkle, Jr., 2507 Cumberland Drive, Mesquite, Tex. 75149 [22] Filed:Jan. 26, 1970 [21] Appl.No.: 5,792

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,399,445 9/1968 Carroll..29/200A Primary Examiner-Thomas H. Eager Att0rneyRichards, Harris &Hubbard [57] 1 ABSTRACT An apparatus for automatically forming wallpanels by lacing or inserting studs having male dovetailed key membersformed on the ends thereof into two plates having dovetailed keywaysformed therein. The apparatus includes a supply bunk or rack for holdinga plurality of studs to be laced, a stud clamp for grasping a stud fromthe box and positioning it for insertion into the keyways of the twoplates, means for simultaneously pressing the stud into the keyways ofthe two plates, and mechanism for advancing the two plates andpositioning the next consecutive keyways at a predetermined location forinsertion of a next stud. The method includes the novel procedure bywhich the next consecutive keyways in the plates are positioned toreceive a stud.

10 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures V PATENTEDFEB 15 1912 SHEET 1 OF 5 INVENTOR GEORGE E. KUNKLE,JR

ATTORNEYS EATENTEDFEB 15 1912 3. 641 .645

sum u 0F 5 INVENTOR GEORGE E. KUNKLE, JR.

AT TORN E YS mwmrzms I912 3.s41,s45

SHEET 5 [1F 5 I46 INVENTOR:

GEORGE E. KUNKLELJR.

ATTORNEYS APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING WALL PANELS BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION This invention relates to a machine for automaticallyassembling wall panels, each comprising two longitudinal end plates anda plurality of transverse studs connecting the end plates throughdovetailed joints, and more particularly, relates to the mechanism forand control of the positioning of the plates and studs for mating theelements forming the dovetailed joints.

In accordance with U.S. Pat. No. 3,082,492 transverse dovetailed keywaysare formed in header plates and baseplates for wall panels by providingfor a thickness-compensated cut at the mouth of the dovetailed keyway sothat a variation in plate thickness can be accommodated. Also in thepast, a panel-assembling machine has been used in which plates are slidthrough an assembly station, periodically stopped in their travel, andstuds having dovetailed male ends formed thereon inserted while theplates are stopped.

One of the problems with the prior assembly machine is that thepositioning of the dovetailed ways at the assembly station is timeconsuming while requiring a certain amount of precision. If thedovetailed keyways in each of the two plates into which a stud will beinserted are out of alignment, a stud cannot be simultaneously insertedin the keyways of each of the plates without harming the resultantstructure. Of course, if the keyways are too far out of alignment,mating the dovetailed end of the stud with the keyway in a given plateis virtually impossible, unless the stud ends are inserted individuallyinto each of the respective keyways. If the latter were to be done,operation time would be almost doubled.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention therefore is particularlydirected to improvements in a machine for automatically assembling wallpanels wherein the handling of the plates and studs is automatic whileassuring accurate positioning of the plates to receive the studs. Thepresent invention therefore provides both a method and apparatus forautomatically assembling wall panels formed from plates spaced apart bystuds which are joined to the plates by dovetailed joints. The apparatusof this invention comprises two frame members mounted in a guideway on abase member, which frame members are mounted for movement toward andaway from each other, means for advancing two of the plates andpositioning the dovetailed keyways to receive a stud, the means foradvancing being responsive to the insertion of a stud in preceding onesof the keyways in the plates, means operative upon positioning thekeyways to receive a stud for inserting a stud into the keyways,meansfor supplying a plurality of studs to the means for inserting.

More specifically, the apparatus comprises two frame members mounted inspaced-apart relation on a base member, a plate guide mounted on each ofsaid frame members, each substantially parallel to the other, each ofthe plate guides capable of receiving a plate having a plurality ofdovetailed keyways formed therein, means for advancing the plates alongthe guides and including means for aligning consecutive dovetailed wayssuch that the ways are capable of simultaneously receiving a stud havinga male dovetail portion at each endthereof, a stud clamp mounted formovement through a portion of a cylindrical path whose axis is parallelto the longitudinal dimension of the studs, the stud clamp mounted tograsp a preselected stud from a stack of studs and remove the stud fromthe stack through the path to a temporary support, a press meansoperative upon the arrival of the stud at the temporary support meansfor forcing the male dovetailed portion into the dovetailed ways.

The apparatus of the present invention for forming wall panels fromplates having dovetailed ways therein, and from studs having maledovetailed ends thereon, wherein two of the plates are translated alonga substantially parallel spacedupurt path by a drive means includingdrive members engaging the two plates, the drive members being driven bya common shaft, the shaft being driven by a drive means having brake andclutch mechanisms on the output side thereof comprises the means foradvancing the two plates along substantially parallel paths, sensing thearrival of a first key at a predetermined location along the path of oneof the plates and disengaging the clutch mechanism responsive to thearrival, sensing the arrival of a second key at a predetermined locationalong the path of the other of the plates and activating the brake afterthe arrival of the second key. The apparatus can additionally comprisepositioning a stud in relation to the keys such that a unidirectionalforce will insert the end of the stud in the keys and inserting the studinto the keys responsive to the arrival of the second key at thepredetermined location.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a more complete understanding ofthe present invention and additional provisions and advantages thereof,refer to the ensuing specification and accompanying drawings where:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of the assembly of a wall panel by theapparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the dovetailed joints which can beutilized with the present invention;

Flg. 3 is a front elevation view of the lacer apparatus embodying theinstant invention;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along section line A- A of FIG.3;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the lacer apparatus taken alongsection line B-B of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the lacer apparatus of the presentinvention taken along section line C-C of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a side elevation view of the stud clamp without its coverportion;

FIG. 8 is a top view of the stud clamp of FIG. 7;

FIG, 9 is a diagrammatic view of the apparatus for positioning keywaysfor receiving a stud;

FIG. 10 is a schematic circuit diagram of a portion of the totalcircuitry which operates the apparatus for positioning the keyways forreceiving a stud.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the accompanyingdrawings, like numerals will be used where applicable to increase theclarity and understanding of the following description. For purposes ofthis description, a wall panel will be understood to include a pair ofsubstantially parallel plates 10 and 12 (FIG. 1) with studs l4joinedthereto at spaced intervals. In normal practice studs are placed atequally spaced intervals such as 16-inch of 24inch centers so that thewall panel when completed can be employed with like wall panels forforming the walls of a framed structure. If desired to verticallyreinforce a portion of a wall panel which will be supporting a secondstory wall, for example, studs can be placed by the present invention atless than l6-inch centers. In accordance with the disclosure of U.S.Pat. No. 3,082,492 and 3,367,376, the description of the presentinvention will include wall panels constructed through utilization ofdovetailed joints. Particularly, the ends of each of the studs 14 have amale dovetailed key 16 which mates with a female dovetailed keyway 18formed in each of two plates 10 and 12. Although utilization of thedovetailed joint is preferred, thepresent invention can be employed witha female keyway of any desired shape; including a dado cut into which anuncut end of a stud can be inserted.

In the enlarged view of FIG. 2, to which reference will now be made, itwill be noted thereto the plate 12 has a stud 14 joined thereto throughthe use of the dovetailed connection involving the key 18 and the malekey portion 16. In accordance with U.S. Pat. No. 3,082,492, the femaleway is formed with a special cut involving the surfaces 18a and "lbwhich permit the present invention to be utilized even though thethickness of the plates 10 and I2 may vary. The surfaces 18a and 18b ofplated 12 are milled at the same time the dovetailed keyway is milled sothat the distance between surfaces 18a and 18b and the surface 12a ofthe plate will be equal for all plates utilized with the presentinvention despite thickness variations in an actual plate. It followsthen that the length of the stud 14 can remain constant and does nothave to be adjusted to variations in keyway depth.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, plates and 12 are mounted such that they arespaced the proper distance apart and are moved intermittently in thedirection of arrows 20. The apparatus for mounting the plates andforwarding them will be described hereinafter. At intervals when thedovetailed ways 18 are positioned at an assembly station, the bottomstud from the front row of a stack or bunk of 24 studs is grasped andtransplanted along an arcuate path 22 to a rest position immediatelyabove and with the keyed ends 16 thereof in alignment with thedovetailed ways 18. A lumber press then engages the ends 16 of the stud14 to simultaneously force ends 16 into the ways 18. When this operationis completed, an automatic nailer is actuated to sink a nail or staplethrough the plates 10 and 12 into each end 16 of the stud 14. Since thedovetailed ways are normally press fitted, the assembly will remainintact without additional connectors, however, one nail in each end isprovided to assure that there is no movement of the dovetailed joint.

The apparatus of the present invention is designed and operated toassure positive alignment of the keyways 18 at the assembly station eventhough there may be a difference in the drive speeds or movement ofplate 10 relative to plate 12'as they are translated to bring the nextsuccessive sets of dovetailed ways 18 to the assembly station. Thecontrol of movement of the plates 10 and 12 is of course important inorder to achieve an exact alignment between the ends 16 of the studs 14and the keyways 18 before the lumber press engages the studs to forcethem into the keyways. As will be described more specifically hereafter,sprocket drives engage the top and bottom surfaces of plates 10 and 12.These sprockets are actuated and rotated by way ofa common drive shaft.The shaft is powered from a drive means, for example, an electric motor,by way of a clutch on the output shaft of the drive means. The clutch isprovided with a brake on its output shaft to stop the forward momentumof the drive system and the plates.

In accordance with this invention, the arrival of keyways 18 areseparately sensed for each of the ways in plates 10 and 12. Thenondiscriminate arrival of a first of the two ways at its assemblystation serves to disconnect the motor by releasing or disengaging theclutch, thereby allowing the first of the two keyways to promptly stopat the proper alignment point. Since there is inertia in the system andbecause of that fact, the clutch output shaft will continue to travelcausing the trailing or second keyway to continue its movement until itis in proper alignment with the assembly station. When the second keywaycomes into alignment, a sensor at the second assembly station serves toenergize and apply the brake on the output shaft of the clutch, therebyimmediately stopping the entire drive mechanism and thus the platecontaining the second keyway.

The foregoing brief description will be further understood along withadditional novel features of construction of the present invention byreference to the remainder of the drawings, FIG. 3 through 10.

Referring first to FIGS. 3 and 4, which is a front view of the lacerforming and embodying the present invention, the apparatus is providedwith a baseplate having supports 31 and 32 attached to the ends thereof.Channel 33 is secured to both supports 31 and 32. An additional pair ofsupports 34 are provided at the rear of the unit supported by andconnected to the base 30. The channel 33 has a rectangular bar 36longitudinally mounted on the channel midway between the inner surfaceof the web thereof. Similarly, a channel 37 mounted on supports 34 has arectangular bar 38 attached to its inner surface. A carriage is mountedfor travel along bars 36 and 38 by means of guide wheels 39 rotatablymounted thereon which cooperate with bar 36, and guide wheels 41rotatably mounted on carriage 40 which cooperate with bar 38. As bestseen in FIG. 3, the carriage 40 is relatively narrow with two of thewheels 39 riding on top of the bar 36 and one of the wheels 39contacting the bottom of the bar 36. Similarly, the wheels 41 are somounted. By this means, the carriage 40 can move longitudinally alongthe length of the lacer. In a similar manner a second carriage 50 ismounted on the left side of the lacer and is supported in identicalfashion for movement toward and away from carriage 40. Carriage 40 isprovided with an elongated rack 42 while carriage 50 is provided with anelongated rack 52. The racks pass through a control structure 53 mountedon the base 30 at the front center of the lacer. A pinion (not shown)mounted in the control unit 53 is provided to be actuated by way ofcrank 54 to move the carriages 40 and 50 toward and away from each otheras desired. As will be seen later, this relative longitudinal oppositemotion of carriages 40 and 50 is provided so that the lacer canaccommodate studs of different lengths, thereby making it possible forthe lacer of the present invention to produce wall panels of differentheights.

The lacer apparatus is further provided with a pair of end members 45and 55. Three common shafts extending the full length of the lacer arerotatably mounted in bushings which are in turn attached to therespective end members 45 and 55. The lower shaft 60 is the main poweredshaft for actuation of the plate advance mechanism of the lacer. ldlershaft 61 is provided for mounting a pair of stud clamps and for mountingthe top portion of the plate drive mechanism. A shaft 62 is provided forcontrol of the position of the bunk or stack of studs in the apparatus.

Normally a bunk of studs is loaded into the lacer to rest upon a rack orbunk formed by rail 62 attached to carriage 40, a similar rail attachedto carriage 50, a sideplate 64, and a similar sideplate on carriage 50.The end plate 64 is pivoted along its bottom margin so that when a bunkof studs is placed in the rack, the end plate 64 can be pivoted outward,with the top edge 58 of the end plate being moved away from the ends ofthe studs, i.e., downward from the plane of the paper as viewed in FIG.4. The bottom edge remains fixed so that there will be a larger openinginto which the bunk of studs can be lowered. After the studs are broughtto rest on the rail 63, the end plates are rotated back to a verticalposition to substantially contact the confronting ends of the studs. Theback surface ofthe bunk ofstuds is then engaged by a pusher frame 65.The frame 64 is mounted for sliding movement on the rail 63 and isdriven forward and backward by a chain (not shown) mounted on an idlersprocket and shaft 66 and a driven sprocket and shaft 62. As seen inFIG. 3, the shaft 62 is driven at the right-hand end by a motor 67through a chain drive mechanism 68 and at the left-hand end by a motor69 through a chain drive mechanism 70. Thus, the shaft 62 is driven atboth ends. When it is desired to move a bunk of studs in the directionof arrow 71, motors 67 and 69 are simultaneously energized to move thebunk of studs until the front stack of studs in the bunk engages theface 72 ofthe front stop.

At this point, the front row of studs overlays the stud sensor 73, whichis biased upwardly by a spring 74. The front row of studs causes thesensor which is mounted for sliding vertical movement to be lowered to adepth corresponding to the thickness of one stud so that the one stud onthe front row of the bunk is one thickness below the plane of theremaining stacks of studs in the bunk as they rest upon rail 63. In thisposition a stud pickup arm is actuated to grasp the bottom stud and moveit along an arcuate path so that the ends thereof are positioneddirectly above a keyway in a plate at the assembly station. To insurethat the front stack of studs, and especially the bottom stud in thatstack is the width of one stud below the rest of the stacks of studs, ahydraulic arm 75 is provided which engages the top stud in the frontstack of studs through the hydraulic cylinder mechanism 76 so that thefront stack of studs will always be pressed firmly down on the sensorsurface 73. When the last stud in a given front stack has been removedby the pickup arm, the cylinder 76 is actuated to elevate the stud arm.Thereafter the motors 67 and 69 are actuated to move the bunk of studsforward one stud width so that the next column rests on the sensors 73.It should be noted here that although the mechanism is being primarilydescribed with relation to the right-hand carriage and the mechanismsthereon, it is to be understood that the left-hand carriage hasmechanisms corresponding to and performing substantially the samefunctions as those on the right-hand carriage 40. The left-hand carriage50 and mechanisms thereon are in essence a mirror image of the rightcarriage assembly.

Before discussing the construction and operation of the pickup arm, itshould be noted that the plates with keyways therein are mounted on abed 77 and are guided by a vertically rotatable roller 78 mounted on thebed 77. Similarly, a like set of rollers is provided on the frameforming part of the carriage 50.

The plates and 12 (shown only in FIG. 3) are driven by a pair ofsprockets which engage the top and bottom portions of the plate. Thelower sprocket 80 is mounted with the teeth thereon just protrudingabove the surface of the bed 77. Referring to FIG. 5, sprocket 80 isdriven through shaft 81, which is in turn driven through chain mechanism82 by shaft 60. The shaft 81 is mounted for rotating motion through thecarriage 40 and thus sprocket 81 is fixed in its position with the teeththereof capable of embedding themselves in the bottom surface of a plateplaced on bed 77. The upper sprocket 83 is mounted on a movable arm 84and is driven through a chain and sprocket arrangement mounted on idlershaft 61. Arm 84 also pivots about idler shaft 61 to raise and lowersprocket 83. Thus, sprocket 83 can be disengaged from the top portionofa plate to remove a completed wall panel and to insert a new plate forthe formation of a wall panel. Sprocket 83 is driven by the chain andsprocket mechanism (not shown) within arm 84 which is in turn drivenfrom shaft 81 through chain and sprocket arrangement 85. The movement ofarm 84 is actuated by hydraulic cylinder 86 through rod 87 which ispivotally attached to arm 84. Cylinder 86 is attached at its oppositeendto carriage 40. Thus, the sprockets 80 and 81 are intermittently poweredto drive the plate 10 in the direction or arrow 20 as shown in FIG. 1. 1

The pickup arm, generally designated 90, ,is an assembly which ismounted for pivotal movement on idler shaft 61. The idler shaft 61, at apoint near where the pickup arm is rotated, is supported by brace 91attached to carriage 40. The pickup arm is controlled as to'position byhydraulic cylinder 93 which has its piston rod pivotally attached to thepickup arm at 8 9. Cylinder 93 is pivotally attached at its other end torail 63 through support member 94. For purposes of clarity, the piston93 is not shown in FIG. 3 but appears in FIG. 4. The pickup arm isillustrated in its extended or horizontal position. When the piston ofcylinder 93 is retracted, the pickup arm rotates along an are so that itis in a vertical position.

For a better understanding of the pickup arm and its operation,reference should be made to FIGS. 7 and 8 wherein the pickup arm isshown in its horizontal or extended position and wherein the protectivecover portion of the pickup arm appearing in FIG. 4 has been deleted sothat the inner mechanism of the pickup arm is apparent. With referencenow to FIGS. 4, 7 and 8, when the pickup arm is in its verticalposition, a clamp dog 95 cooperates with a fixed jaw 101 to grasp thebottom stud in the front stack resting on sensor 73. A push dog 96 shownin an extended position is retracted when the pickup arm is in itsvertical position, such that its front surface 97 can engage the rearportion of a stud being held by the clamp dog 95. When the pickup arm isbeing raised to the vertical position, the clamp dog 95 is rotated backout of line of the jaw surface 98 so that the fixed jaw 101 will engagethe front side of the bottom stud. In this position the clamp dog 95 isactuated so that the tooth thereof impales the back side of the stud.'Microswitches 108 and 110 are provided to assure proper operation ofthe pickup arm 90. Switch 108 is activated by sensor 73 in its loweredposition. Switch 110 is activated by the pickup arm in its verticalposition. Both switches must be activated before the pickup arm willreturn to its horizontal position with a stud it has grasped from thebottom of the stack resting on sensor 73. Thus, if switch 108 is notactivated, it is an indication of the absence of studs on sensor 73,requiring the placement of a new stack from the bunk of studs. If switch110 is not activated, it is an indication that the pickup arm has forsome reason malfunctioned by not properly returning to the uprightposition or by not correctly grasping a new stud from the stack.

From the vertical position, the cylinder 93 is actuated to return thepickup arm to its horizontal position. At this movement is initiated,the bottom stud in the front stack is removed from under the bottom ofthe stack and rotates along an arc to a horizontal position. The clampdog is actuated by hydraulic cylinder arrangement 99 and the push dog 96is actuated by hydraulic cylinder arrangement 102. A microswitch 103 isactuated which serves to release the clamp dog 88 and to actuate thepush dog 96. The push dog 96 slides the stud forward off the fixed jaw101 and onto a weigthbiased temporary support arm 104. As shown in FIG.4, the temporary support arm is pivoted at 105, the right hand portionthereof being sufficiently weighted so that the weight of the stud(shown only in FIG. 4) resting thereon will not cause the support 104 topivot. In this position, the front face of the studis in contact withthe surface of lumber stop 106. In this position, the stud is poisedwith the shaped end thereof in alignment with the dovetailed way whichhas been previously positioned at the assembly station. After the studhas been inserted into the two plates, the pickup arm 90 is returned toa vertical position, ready to grasp the next stud at the bottom of thefront stack of studs resting on sensor 73.

A hydraulic press 120, powered by a hydraulic cylinder (not shown)within carriage 40, serves to press the stud from its position as shownin FIG. 4, into the previously positioned keyways of the plates. As thehydraulic press engages the stud 100 to push it downward into thekeyways, the temporary support 104 pivots out of the way to allowdownward movement of the stud.l00. After the stud has passed thetemporary support 104, the support trips back into the position as showndue to the weight-biased right-hand end thereof.

A curved arm 121 pivoted at 122 extends into the path of a stud as itmoves down to the bottom of its course during insertion into thekeyways. As the arm 121 is moved downward, it actuates a microswitch 123to energize a nailing or stapling gun (not shown) housed within carriage40 to inject a nail from the outer surface of the plate into the end ofthe stud. Thus, the system automatically assembles keyed studs withsuitably formed plates to provide wall panels ready for use in theconstruction trades.

Referring now to FIG. 6, in one aspect of the invention, the shaft 60 isdriven by way of a chain engaging sprocket 131, which is keyed to shaft60. Shaft 60 is coupled by suitable drive mechanism, as hereinbeforedescribed, to both of sprockets 80 and 81. A motor 132 drives a clutch133 and thence through a gear train to a sprocket 134, which in turndrives the chain 130. Interposed between the clutch 133 and the sprocketdrive 134, is a brake mechanism for stopping the rotation of sprocket134, and, hence, shaft 60. The brake and clutch mechanisms are of theconventional electrically powered, magnetic type. The control of thedrive mechanism is thus common to both plates 10 and 12, since theleft-hand plate is driven by sprockets which in turn are driven throughthe common shaft 60. However, since the plates utilized in the presentinvention can be of different materials permitting the drive sprocketsto imbed themselves more deeply in one plate than in the other, forexample, the velocity at which one plate travels can differ from thevelocity at which the other plate travels. Even though the dovetailedkeyways are equally spaced on the two studs, one such keyway may bepositioned in alignment with the assembly station before the other.

Referring now to FIG. 9, the apparatus and method by which it is assuredthat both keyways are properly aligned at the assembly station will bedescribed. A pin mechanism generally shown on FIG. 4 as 140, ispositioned at the dovetailed joint assembly station. Referring to FIG.9, a diagrammatic view of the mechanism for stopping the advance ofplates 10 and 12 in the direction of the arrows is illustrated. A pinarrangement, generally designated 140, for the righthand side of thelacer apparatus is connected to the carriage 40 by means not here shown.A similar pin arrangement, generally designated 160, is attached tocarriage 50, also by means not shown. The pin arrangements 140 and 160locate the position of the assembly station for the wall panels. The pinarrangement 140 includes a bushing 141 and a spring 142, which biasesthe pin 143 in an upward direction by contact with retension rod 148.The pin 143 extends through an appropriate hole 149 in the surface ofthe guide 77. The pin 143 is thus mounted for sliding, reciprocal motionin the direction of arrow 144. The bottom of pin 143 engages an arm 145ofa microswitch 146.

As can readily be seen, when a stud is pressed into the dovetailedkeyway 18, the pin will be depressed such that the plate 10 can be movedforward in the direction of arrows 20. As the next consecutive keyway ispositioned over the pin 143, it will rise into the keyway, serving adual purpose. The first purpose is to provide a rest or positive stopagainst which the surface 147 of the keyway 18 can engage, thus,determining the point at which the plate 10 will cause its motion in thedirection of arrows 20. Second, since the pin 143 is contacting theswitch arm 145 of the microswitch 146, the microswitch will beactivated. The operation of the pin arrangement 160 is similar to thatof pin arrangement 140, with the pin 163 rising into the keyway 18 ofplate 12 as it arrives at the pin location. Similarly, microswitch 166is activated by the upward movement of the pin. As will be describedhereinafter, microswitches 146 and 166 are connected by appropriatecircuitry to the clutch 133 and the brake described in conjunction withFIG. 6. To reiterate, the clutch and brake mechanism are the primarydrive source for shaft 60 which in turn drives the sprockets engagingplates 10 and 12 to translate them in the direction of arrows 20. Theclutch 133 is so connected to the microswitches 146 and 166 that it willbe disengaged upon either of pins 143 and 163 first rising intorespective keyways, thus cutting off the power to the drive mechanismfor translating the plates 10 and 12. As the second keyway comes intoposition such that its respective pin rises thereinto, the microswitches146 and 166 are so connected to the brake mechanism on the output shaftof clutch 133 that the brake will be engaged. The inertia of the drivesystem will provide sufficient translational energy to move the laggingkeyway into its proper position for assembly after the clutch isdisengaged. However, to prevent harm to the keyways and to the pinmechanisms 140 and 160, the brake is provided to stop the entire drivemechanism. Thus the pin arrangement 140 and 160 provide the mechanismwhereby the plates are automatically positioned so that the nextrespective stud can be positioned in the keyways 18 of the plates 10 and12, without fear of misalignment or damage to the plates.

Referring now to FIG. 10, the circuitry associated with switches 146 and166 for engaging and disengaging the clutch and brake mechanisms in thedrive train for plates 10 and 12 is schematically illustrated. Theswitches 146 and 166 can be of the double-pole, double-throw type. Theswitches are connected in series to a suitable source of alternatingcurrent 170. The poles 171 of switch 166 are electrically connected andin turn are connected to the alternating current source 170. Contact 172of switch 166 is electrically connected to pole 174 of switch 146.Contact 173 of switch 166 is electrically connected to pole 175 ofswitch 146. A relay coil 177 is connected in series between contact 176of switch 146 and the alternating current source 170. The relay coil 177corresponds to the brake mechanism on the output shaft of the clutchhereinbefore described. As coil 177 is energized, the brake mechanismwill be activated to stop the drive train for shaft 60 (FIG. 6). Asecond relay coil 179 is connected in series between contact 178 ofswitch 146 and the alternating current source 170. The relay coil 179when energized will in turn engage the clutch 133 between the motor 132and the shaft 60 (FIG. 6).

The sensing pins 143 and 163 described in conjunction with FIG. 9 areshown connected to the two switch arms of each of switches 146 and 166,respectively. For example, when both switches 146 and 166 are in alowered position B and B indicating that a keyway is not at the assemblystation, a circuit is made through poles 171, contact 173, pole andcontact 146 to energize the clutch relay coil 179, thus causing theplates 10 and 12 to move in the direction of arrows 20 (FIG. 9). Whenone of the keyways 18 arrives at the assembly station its respectivepin, for example pin 143, will shift from position B to A thus breakingthe circuit at contact 178. This in turn deenergizes the clutch relaycoil 79 to disengage the clutch mechanism. At the same time a circuit iscompleted between pole 174 and contact 176 of switch 146. When thesecond keyway arrives at the assembly station the respective pin, forexample pin 163, will rise into the keyway. As the second pin so rises,a circuit will be made between pole 171 and contact 172 of switch 166,thus completing the circuit to brake relay coil 177. As this circuit iscompleted the brake mechanism for the drive train of shaft 60 is engagedto stop movement of the drive train for the plates 10 and 12. Similarlyas a stud is inserted in the keyways 18 of plates 10 and 12, pins 143and 163 will again cause a circuit to be made through the clutch relaycoil 179. The plates 10 and 12 will then be forwarded in the directionof arrows 20 until the next consecutive keyways arrive at the assemblystation. A switch 180 is provided to manually deactivate the brake andclutch coils regardless of the position of pins 143 and 163. Inaddition, provision can be made to prevent the clutch relay coil fromengaging the clutch until the lumber press 120 (FIG. 4) has moved asufficient distance above the plates after inserting a stud in thekeyways.

Although the foregoing invention has been described in relation to apreferred embodiment it is apparent to one of ordinary skill in the artthat various and diverse modifications can be made without departingfrom the invention herein described which is particularly defined in theappended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for production of wall panels formed from plates spacedapart by studs connected through joints including a female keywaycomprising:

two frame members mounted in spaced-apart relation on a base member;

a plate guide mounted on each of said frame members, each substantiallyparallel to the other and each capable of receiving a plate having aplurality of dovetailed keyways formed therein,

means for advancing said plates along said guides and including meansfor aligning consecutive keyways such that said keyways are capable ofsimultaneously receiving the ends of a stud,

a stud clamp mounted for movement through a portion of an arcuate pathwhose axis of generation is parallel to the longitudinal dimension ofthe stud, said stud clamp mounted to grasp a preselected stud from astack of studs and move the stud from the stack through said path to atemporary support,

and a press means operative upon the arrival of said stud at saidtemporary support means for forcing said ends of said studs into saidkeyways.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the said frame members are mountedon said base members for movement toward and away from each other,thereby said apparatus is capable of receiving and operating upon studsof various lengths.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said advancing means comprises atleast two sprockets mounted for rotation on each of said frame members,one of said sprockets mounted to engage the bottom of a plate in saidplate guide, one of said sprockets mounted to engage the top of a platein said plate guide, at least one of said sprockets on each frame memberdriven through a common shaft mounted for sliding and rotating motion ineach of said frame members, and means for driving said common shaft.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said stud clamp is mounted formovement through a cylindrical path on an idler shaft, and said idlershaft is mounted for rotating and sliding motion in each of said framemembers.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein a stud clamp is mounted near each ofsaid frame members on said idler shaft, and drive means for moving eachof said stud clamps through a cylindrical path.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein each of said stud clamps comprisesan arm mounted for rotation on said idler shaft, a projection attachedto said arm, a digital clamp means mounted for movement on said arm forgrasping a stud between said clamp means and said projections, andpusher means for removing a stud from said stud clamp and onto saidtemporary support.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising a rail mounted on each ofsaid frame members capable of supporting a plurality of studs, and meansfor feeding said studs to a predetermined position whereat one stud ofsaid plurality can be grasped by the said stud clamp.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the means for feeding includes a barmember mounted for movement along each of said rails, said bar memberpositioned to advance said plurality of studs toward said predeterminedposition, means for driving said bar member including a drive shaftmounted for rotation in each of said frame members, sprockets attachedto said shaft for sliding movement thereon and to each of said framemembers for rotating motion, a drive member operatively connecting saidsprockets and said bar member and means for rotating said drive shaft.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for advancing comprisesdrive means for each plate, each drive means driven from a common shaft,a motor having a clutch and a brake on the clutch output shaft fortransmitting power from said motor to said common shaft, means forsensing the arrival of a keyway at a predetermined location on each ofsaid plates, and means responsive to a first output from said sensorymeans to actuate said clutch and responsive to a second output from saidsensory means to actuate said brake.

10. An apparatus for producing wall panels by inserting studs havingdovetailed male ends into spaced-apart plates having dovetailed keywaystherein comprising:

two frame members mounted in a guideway on a base member for movementtoward and away from each other,

first means attached to each of said frame members for advancing saidplates and for positioning two of said keyways to simultaneously receivea said stud,

means for driving said first means which disengages from said firstmeans responsive to the positioning of a first of said keyways,

means for stopping the advance of said tioning of a second of saidkeyways,

means operative upon positioning said keyways to receive a stud forinserting a stud into said keyways,

and means for supplying a plurality of studs to said means forinserting.

plates upon the posi-

1. An apparatus for production of wall panels formed from plates spacedapart by studs connected through joints including a female keywaycomprising: two frame members mounted in spaced-apart relation on a basemember; a plate guide mounted on each of said frame members, eachsubstantially parallel to the other and each capable of receiving aplate having a plurality of dovetailed keyways formed therein, means foradvancing said plates along said guides and including means for aligningconsecutive keyways such that said keyways are capable of simultaneouslyreceiving the ends of a stud, a stud clamp mounted for movement througha portion of an arcuate path whose axis of generation is parallel to thelongitudinal dimension of the stud, said stud clamp mounted to grasp apreselected stud from a stack of studs and move the stud from the stackthrough said path to a temporary support, and a press means operativeupon the arrival of said stud at said temporary support means forforcing said ends of said studs into said keyways.
 2. The apparatus ofclaim 1 wherein the said frame members are mounted on said base membersfor movement toward and away from each other, thereby said apparatus iscapable of receiving and operating upon studs of various lengths.
 3. Theapparatus of claim 2 wherein said advancing means comprises at least twosprockets mounted for rotation on each of said frame members, one ofsaid sprockets mounted to engage the bottom of a plate in said plateguide, one of said sprockets mounted to engage the top of a plate insaid plate guide, at least one of said sprockets on each frame memberdriven through a common shaft mounted for sliding and rotating motion ineach of said frame members, and means for driving said common shaft. 4.The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said stud clamp is mounted for movementthrough a cylindrical path on an idler shaft, and said idler shaft ismounted for rotating and sliding motion in each of said frame members.5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein a stud clamp is mounted near each ofsaid frame members on said idler shaft, and drive means for moving eachof said stud clamps through a cylindrical path.
 6. The apparatus ofclaim 5 wherein each of said stud clamps comprises an arm mounted forrotation on said idler shaft, a projection attached to said arm, adigital clamp means mounted for movement on said arm for grasping a studbetween said clamp means and said projections, and pusher means forremoving a stud from said stud clamp aNd onto said temporary support. 7.The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising a rail mounted on each ofsaid frame members capable of supporting a plurality of studs, and meansfor feeding said studs to a predetermined position whereat one stud ofsaid plurality can be grasped by the said stud clamp.
 8. The apparatusof claim 7 wherein the means for feeding includes a bar member mountedfor movement along each of said rails, said bar member positioned toadvance said plurality of studs toward said predetermined position,means for driving said bar member including a drive shaft mounted forrotation in each of said frame members, sprockets attached to said shaftfor sliding movement thereon and to each of said frame members forrotating motion, a drive member operatively connecting said sprocketsand said bar member and means for rotating said drive shaft.
 9. Theapparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for advancing comprises drivemeans for each plate, each drive means driven from a common shaft, amotor having a clutch and a brake on the clutch output shaft fortransmitting power from said motor to said common shaft, means forsensing the arrival of a keyway at a predetermined location on each ofsaid plates, and means responsive to a first output from said sensorymeans to actuate said clutch and responsive to a second output from saidsensory means to actuate said brake.
 10. An apparatus for producing wallpanels by inserting studs having dovetailed male ends into spaced-apartplates having dovetailed keyways therein comprising: two frame membersmounted in a guideway on a base member for movement toward and away fromeach other, first means attached to each of said frame members foradvancing said plates and for positioning two of said keyways tosimultaneously receive a said stud, means for driving said first meanswhich disengages from said first means responsive to the positioning ofa first of said keyways, means for stopping the advance of said platesupon the positioning of a second of said keyways, means operative uponpositioning said keyways to receive a stud for inserting a stud intosaid keyways, and means for supplying a plurality of studs to said meansfor inserting.